Michigan's gas prices rise ahead of Labor Day weekend, but remain lower than last year

Michigan's average gas price is $3.62 per gallon, according to AAA.MLive File Photo

LANSING — Michigan's average gas price rose 7 cents over the week, but it still remains 31 cents lower than the same time last year.

The statewide average is $3.62 per gallon, according to Dearborn-based auto club AAA Michigan.

Gas prices often rise just before Labor Day, which is on Sept. 2 this year. Last year, the Labor Day average price of $4.05 hit a state record for the holiday.

More than 1.2 million Michiganders are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the Labor Day holiday weekend, up about 1 percent from last year, according to AAA. About 91 percent of those are expected to drive.

Despite the drop in gas prices over last year, AAA said median spending is expected to grow from $749 to $804. Airfare, car rental and hotel rates have all increased over last year.

About 34.1 million Americans are expected to travel, up 4.2 percent. The national average gas price is $3.54, unchanged from last week and 21 cents lower than last year.

Michigan has the 20th highest average gas price in a list that includes Washington, D.C. Hawaii has the most expensive gas at $4.34 per gallon, while South Carolina has the cheapest at $3.24 per gallon.

The Detroit area's average gas price of $3.60 is the least expensive compared to nine other Michigan metro areas in AAA's fuel gauge report. Jackson has the highest average of $3.64 (See more metros here.)

AAA bases its report on a survey of 2,800 Michigan gas stations. Today's price report is based on the last credit card transaction at each station on Sunday.

The lowest price reported on MichiganGasPrices.com this morning was $3.37 at stations in Detroit. The highest price reported was $4.10 in Copper Harbor.

The site, part of GasBuddy.com, reports real-time user-submitted data on gas prices at specific stations.